I smuggle marijuana because I cannot engage in robbery – Suspect

A 43-year-old man Okafor Secopter has told police that he ventured into smuggling of marijuana (Indian hemp) in Lagos, because he could not do armed robbery.

Police sources said the suspect was arrested by the Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) while on routine patrol at Isheri Berger area of Lagos, on August 28, 2017.

It was learnt that Okafor was intercepted with a Ghana-must-go bag at Isheri Berger area which contained Indian hemp weighing over 20 kilogramme.

The suspect allegedly confessed to the ownership of the hard drug.

Confessing, Okafor said: “I am a smuggler. I was into smuggling business. I used to smuggle marijuana because I cannot do armed robbery job. Smuggling is the only business I know how to do well.

The country is too tough and rough. I cannot kill my fellow human beings to get money. Leave matter for Mathias. I cannot do armed robbery and I cannot do kidnapping. I do not have the mind to do obtaining by false pretense aka 419 or big fraud. I cannot operate dangerous gun.

I am hustling to get what I and my family will eat. It is not a crime. I have to take care of my family.

“I was buying and selling foreign rice before the government banned foreign rice importation. As if that was not enough, the bags of rice in my shop were seized and for me to survive I started smuggling marijuana. I used to buy it from Benin, Edo State. It was when I was carrying the bag of Indian hemp to Lagos that police on patrol saw me at Isheri Berger area and stopped me. When they opened the bag to know what I was carrying they saw marijuana and they said I was under arrest. It is not my fault. The country is tough.